The EarthCARE satellite, a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is scheduled to launch in 2023. The satellite will carry a suite of instruments that will measure clouds and aerosols from the surface to the top of the atmosphere.
Clouds and aerosols are important players in the Earth's climate system. Clouds reflect sunlight back into space, cooling the planet, while aerosols can absorb or reflect sunlight, depending on their composition and size. Aerosols can also affect cloud formation and precipitation.
The EarthCARE satellite will provide the most comprehensive measurements of clouds and aerosols ever made from space. These measurements will help scientists to better understand how clouds and aerosols affect the Earth's climate system and how they are likely to change in the future.
The EarthCARE mission
The EarthCARE mission is designed to study the interactions between clouds, aerosols, and radiation. The satellite will carry four instruments:
* A radar that will measure the vertical structure of clouds and aerosols.
* A lidar that will measure the vertical distribution of aerosols and thin cirrus clouds.
* A spectrometer that will measure the spectral properties of clouds and aerosols.
* A radiometer that will measure the radiative fluxes at the Earth's surface and at the top of the atmosphere.
The EarthCARE satellite will orbit the Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit, which means that it will pass over the same location at the same time each day. This will allow scientists to track the evolution of clouds and aerosols over time.
The benefits of the EarthCARE mission
The EarthCARE mission will provide a wealth of information about clouds and aerosols. This information will help scientists to better understand how clouds and aerosols affect the Earth's climate system and how they are likely to change in the future. The mission will also help scientists to improve weather forecasting and climate models.
The EarthCARE mission is a major undertaking that will benefit scientists and policymakers around the world. The satellite is scheduled to launch in 2023 and will operate for at least five years.
